Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the house
of representatives have asked Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, to
address issues of human rights violation allegedly perpetrated by the Nigerian
government.
Blinken is currently on a visit to three African countries,
and will arrive in Nigeria this week.
During the visit, Blinken is expected to meet with President
Muhammadu Buhari, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and Geoffrey Onyeama, minister
of foreign affairs, in Abuja to discuss matters on health security, economy,
and politics.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Kingsley Chinda, leader
of the PDP caucus, appealed to Blinken to address human rights abuses which he
said has become the “spur of violent conflicts” in the country.
“The caucus urged the
government of the United States, through secretary Blinken, to impress on the
Nigerian government as an act of principle to stay within the realm of
prohibition by not deploying received military assistance against citizens who
embark on legitimate and constitutional agitations, including agitations for
self-determination and secession, which are legitimate aspirations under our
laws and treaties entered into by Nigeria,” the PDP lawmakers said.
“Beyond all of this, and as strategic partners, with shared
vision and future for peace, we are convinced that the shared vision and future
are impossible without the United States showing more than a passing and
curious interest on respect for human rights.
“The nexus between human rights and peace is beyond contest;
sustainable development is only possible when human rights become the
cornerstone of governance. Under this government, human rights abuses have
become the spur of violent conflicts, halting economic progress, growth and development.
“Secretary Bliken
should as a matter of urgency hold the Nigerian Government to account for the
wanton assaults on rights, abuse of state power, systematic use of state
violence to suppress peaceful protesters, particularly activists of the
#EndSARS Movement and campaigners for self-determination, extra-judicial
killings, intimidation of the judiciary; and declare to this government that
abuses of human rights have consequences.”
The PDP lawmakers also asked the US secretary of state to
engage the federal government on the insecurity in the country.
“Just this week a Brigadier General was killed by ISWAP and
this is in addition to the countless numbers of soldiers who have been killed
or grievously injured with the weightless and worthless remark of getting to
the root of the matter,” the lawmakers said.
“Our country cannot afford the luxury of losing military
officers to terrorists when it can seek strategic military and
counter-insurgency assistance from the United States that has for many years
built strategic and sustained military and intelligence frameworks for fighting
terrorism”
“We note that the
insistence of the Government of United States that all strategic military,
anti-terrorism and counter-insurgency engagements must be in accord with the
Leahy laws.”
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